Fortune Academy - 5626 Lawton Loop East Drive
Year Built: Circa 1970sArchitecture Style: Colonial RevivalKey Features:Spire Fanlight over Door Small Panes in Double Hung WindowsConstructed in the 1970s to serve as a chapel on the Fort. After the Fort was decommissioned, the chapel changed hands and was purchased from Lawrence Township Schools in 2012, becoming the new permanent home of Fortune Academy.Fortune Academy is a not-for-profit private school serving students 1st-12th grades with language learning differences such as dyslexia and ADHD. Fortune was founded in 2000, by teacher and mother Janet George, Fortune Academy's current Head of School. The school opened in 2002 in a borrowed building on 38th street with just 6 students and 2 teachers. Today, serving over 90 students from over 34 zip codes, Fortune is ranked 18th in the Nation by the Master's in Education Guide. Fortune has had families move from as far as California and Texas to attend, and currently has families traveling over an hour to attend daily.Fortune Academy boasts a 6:1 student to teacher ratio and uses the Orton-Gillingham Approach to language instruction - considered the Gold Standard of Teaching for students struggling to read and write. Fortune offers three diploma tracks: General, Core 40, and Honors Diploma and benefits from a long-term relationship with Ivy Tech for students wishing to take dual credit courses. Due to growth Fortune Academy is currently conducting a 7MM Capital Campaign to raise funds to construct a free standing high school on the now parking lot of the campus. The free standing high school will also house an Outreach Center for community resources such as tutoring, college and career planning, diagnostic testing, teacher training, and community education. Fort HistoryLong before the first settlers arrived in Lawrence, Native Americans such as the Delaware and Miami tribes lived along Fall Creek, just west of here. In the 1820s, pioneers began to migrate into the area, including the Reddick family who purchased land for farming in Lawrence in 1823.So, that’s a snapshot of early Lawrence, what’s the story of the fort – how and when did it get here?The fort is named for “Indianapolis’ own,” Benjamin Harrison, who, though born in Ohio, moved to Indianapolis in 1853 at age 20 and established a law practice here. Harrison had a good American pedigree, he was the grandson of the 9th President of the United States, William Henry Harrison, and the great-grandson of Benjamin Harrison the 5th, who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. During the Civil War, Benjamin Harrison served in the Union Army as a colonel, and was promoted in 1865 to brevet brigadier general. Harrison returned to his Indianapolis law practice, served for a term in the U.S. Senate, and from there was elected as a Republican as the 23rd President of the United States, serving one term from 1889-1893. The Harrisons, Benjamin and W. H., are the only grandfather-grandson duo to occupy the Oval Office. Harrison died in Indianapolis in 1901.In 1902, the federal government announced the closing of the Civil War arsenal in Indianapolis, where Arsenal Tech High School gets its name and is located today. Because of the loss of city revenue from the arsenal, Russell Harrison, Benjamin’s son, a recent Spanish-American War veteran, proposed the establishment of an infantry base in the area and worked to find a suitable location. The location selected was northeast of the city where Uncle Sam purchased land from the farmers near Lawrence, including 312 acres from the Reddick family. Towards the end of the transaction, a few of the farmers drove the price up, exceeding the budget. Local merchants stepped in to cover the difference, knowing that their shops would benefit having the fort nearby. These merchants included L.S. Ayres and Bobbs-Merrill Company. The merchants, in a sense, saved the fort. In total, 2,417 acres were purchased for $279,000.Russell Harrison championed the naming of the new fort after his late President father to then President Teddy Roosevelt. Russell did so only to further the Indiana fortunes of the Republican Party and of Teddy Roosevelt, as he had had a falling out with his father, who left him out of his will. With the land purchase finalized in 1904, construction of the fort began in 1906. President Roosevelt did honor the former Hoosier president, naming it Fort Benjamin Harrison.When the Base Realignment and Closure Commission closed the Fort in 1995, about 1,700 acres were conveyed to the State of Indiana for the Fort Harrison State Park and Golf Course. The Fort Harrison Reuse Authority purchased the rest of the land from the Army for $9 million. A significant portion of that land was given to the City of Lawrence for parks and recreational uses. The Reuse Authority demolished over 800,000 square feet of dilapidated buildings and prepared the land for redevelopment for residential and office use. Today there are two major housing projects, outdoor art sculptures, and property values have increased. The Fort’s development is widely recognized as a success story for the reuse and redevelopment of a vacated military installation.To the north and directly in front of us is the 35-acre parade field or “The Loop” as it is referred to these days - this was the center of fort activities for much of its history, from physical training in the mornings, to military field exercises, pass and review ceremonies, as well as evening entertainment provided by the regimental band. We’ll talk more about life at the fort throughout the tour. We’ll start the tour by taking a trip around the parade field and Lawton Loop, named for General Lawton, a hero of the Civil War and Spanish-American War from Fort Wayne, Indiana. Many of the streets of the base were all named after victorious Spanish-American war heroes. More than 400 maple trees were planted along the sidewalks of the post when it was built.
Officer's Homes - 5762 Lawton Loop West Drive
Here on the west side of the loop and parade grounds we see the original 18 officers’ homes varying in size and design based on rank, from lieutenant to captain, to major. There are 14 duplex homes, and 4 single-family homes.Although this was a standard design for the army throughout the United States at the time, these turn of the century homes were built out of local available materials for a given post – in the case of Fort Ben, Indiana limestone and bricks largely fired at the foundry in Brazil, Indiana were used in their construction. The materials were brought in by train, including raw lumber for framing, and deposited on the parade field which served as a construction site complete with a rail spur leading up to a small saw mill in the middle of the field.Rank determined the exterior design of the house—for example, the location and size of balconies on the front vs. on the sides vs. wrap-around indicated rank—as well as the number of oak-finished rooms the Army afforded its officers. The colonel’s quarters had 6 rooms furnished in oak. Majors lived in homes with only 4 rooms of oak. Quarters for captains had 2 rooms of oak and those for lieutenants had only one.Each building has a 3-digit number on the front steps– these are addresses that the army used to identify each building on base. Officers’ names were inserted into the front of the steps.Rank determined the number of oak-finished rooms the Army afforded its officers. The colonel’s quarters had 6 rooms furnished in oak. Majors lived in homes with only 4 rooms of oak. Quarters for captains had 2 rooms of oak and those for lieutenants had only one.
Regimental Commander's Home - 5844 Lawton Loop West Drive
Year Built: 1908Architecture Style: Colonial RevivalKey Features:Large Central Pediment with Entablature Wrap Porch with Column Supports Lights Above DoorThis is the largest house on the fort, designed for the regimental commander and his family along with serving staff. This was a home for a full colonel who commanded the infantry regiment based here and served as the post’s commander. The house was not only a fixture of command for the base, but was also intended to host and entertain the civilian elite of Indianapolis, as well as dignitaries from Washington D.C.
Band Gazebo
To the north and directly in front of us is the 35-acre parade field or “The Loop” as it is referred to these days. This was the center of fort activities for much of its history, from physical training in the mornings, to military field exercises, pass and review ceremonies, as well as evening entertainment provided by the regimental band in the gazebo, built in the 1930s. The band played routinely on Friday evenings and the weekends during the early years of the fort. We’ll talk more about life at the fort throughout the tour.
Band Barracks - 5835 Lawton Loop East Drive
Year Built: 1908Architecture Style: Colonial RevivalKey Features:Double Level Porch Twin Gable Front Wings Segmental Arched Windows and DoorsThis smaller barracks building is the old regimental band barracks, where soldiers of the regimental band lived and practiced. This building allowed the band to be close to practice and performance areas on the campus. The building is now home to Triad Associates, Inc., a civil engineering and architecture firm.Behind the Barracks is the old fire station, now the Salt Spa.Year Built: 1908Architecture Style: Colonial RevivalKey Features:Copula Large Swing-Open Doors Brick ConstructionThis building is the old fort fire station and is one of the earlier buildings at the fort, now the Salt Cave, where you can get salt spa treatments. Note the large swing-open doors. It originally housed horse-drawn fire wagons and served the entire fort. The copula on top was used as a fire watch. There was a 24/7 spotter because all buildings were heated by wood-burning and coal, and were thus greater fire hazards.
Stockade - 5825 Lawton Loop East Drive
Year Built: 1908Architecture Style: Colonial RevivalKey Features:Stockade Bars Large Central Dormer Segmental Arched Doors and WindowsThis building is the military police building, also known as the stockade. Notice the bars on the windows, which are the cells where soldiers at Fort Harrison who were convicted of crimes under military law would serve time.
Bachelor Officers' Quarters - 5855 Lawton Loop East Drive
Year Built: 1908Architecture Style: Colonial RevivalKey Features:Double Level Porch with Column Supports Pedimented Dormers Symmetrical AestheticThe building to our left was the original officer’s mess, club and visiting/bachelor officer’s quarters, and adjacent to it the original headquarters building. The bachelors’ quarters were called the Bachelors’ Club and could accommodate ten bachelors. The club has been converted into condos; the Headquarters building is now a law office [5845 Lawton Loop E. Dr.]. The main entrance to this building is the side that faces away from Lawton Loop, on Lawton Road. This side is much more grand. Check out the picture here or take a quick look around. In 1917, the post commander, Colonel Root, abolished “spooning” at Fort Ben. His orders prohibited civilians from visiting candidates in the officers’ training camp and soldiers of any unit at the post except on Saturday afternoon and Sunday unless an emergency existed. Unescorted women and young girls visiting the fort were to be stopped by military police and questioned, and if they could not give a satisfactory account of themselves were to be sent off the post. Colonel Root also ordered that taxicab drivers and drivers of other vehicles could expect to have their vehicles searched for liquor as he strictly enforced the laws regarding the bringing of liquor onto the post.
Post Exchange - 5745 Lawton Loop East Drive
Year Built: 1908Architecture Style: Colonial RevivalKey Features:Central Pediment Decorative Masonry Segmental Arched WindowsThis is the old post exchange, where soldiers could purchase small items and snacks to make army life a little easier; and there was once a small, three-lane bowling alley in the basement for recreation. It was later used as a non-commissioned officers club.Notice that this building is currently undeveloped. Context Design, a landscape architecture firm, owns the building and is working on a plan for its repurposing and conversion.The small brick structure on the field is the Parade Viewing Stands. Ranking officers positioned themselves here to review formations and passing units. Old photos show thousands of massed troops, with infantry, artillery, mounted cavalry, and horse- and mule-drawn wagons.
Building 671 - 5719 Lawton Loop East Drive
Year Built: 1908Architecture Style: Colonial RevivalKey Features:Double Level Porch Two Entrances Segmental Arched Windows and DoorsA great example of adaptive reuse, this building has been converted to hold several small businesses including Porter Books and Bread (door 719), which is a great place to get a locally-sourced sandwich and in-house roasted coffee.
Village of Merici - 5707 Lawton Loop East Drive
Year Built: 1908Architecture Style: Colonial RevivalKey Features:Double Level Porch Two Entrances Segmental Arched Windows and DoorsThe Village of MericiThis former Alpha Company barracks of the 11th Infantry Regiment is now the home of Merici (“mare-ree-chee”) Village, a group home for developmentally disabled adults. They are wonderful neighbors and a welcome addition to the loop.
Theater at the Fort / Service Men’s Club and Fort Theater - 8920 Otis Avenue
Year Built: 1929Architecture Style: Colonial RevivalKey Features:Symmetrical Facade Fully Arched Windows Small Paned in Windows The theater was built in 1929. It showed movies and hosted band performances for soldiers and their families during its heyday.The fort and its theater were decommissioned in 1996. Until the end of 2014, the 38th Infantry Band of the Indiana National Guard used the building as a practice space. Theatre At the Fort is now home to Arts For Lawrence, as of 2015.To learn more about the theatre, visit here: https://www.artsforlawrence.com/about-the-theater/
Spring Valley Cemetery
(The cemetery is across the street)This is the old pioneer cemetery predates the fort. It was originally named the Thomas Silvey Cemetery. In 1903, the cemetery was included within the area the federal government acquired for the construction of Fort Benjamin Harrison. The Army tried unsuccessfully several times to have the cemetery condemned and relocated, but failed and decided to leave it a private and undisturbed cemetery. Many of the early Lawrence settlers are buried here, including Mr. Reddick, the farmer who sold his land to the government to build Fort Harrison.
Midwest Studios / The Water Pump House - 5742 North Post Road
Year Built: 1908Architecture Style: Colonial RevivalKey Features:Water Tower Narrow Arched Windows Brick Construction(The studios are across the street)The original water pump house housed three pump engines capable of pumping 1 million gallons of water per day from five deep wells. The water would then be pumped and stored in a 300,000 gallon storage tower. Five additional wells added in WWII to increase the capacity to 2 million gallons per day. The original water tower is still on site. The pump house is now home to Midwest Studios, an interactive marketing, animation and exhibit fabrication firm. They aim to help businesses "transform technical stories into digital media, physical models and interactive exhibits." Learn more about them here: https://www.midweststudios.com/As we leave the pump station, we will head past the old post hospital, which was later converted into the headquarters building as the post expanded during World War II, with a larger and more modern hospital built on the other side of the base. You’ll also see the medical sergeants and nurses’ quarters on the right.
Ft. Harrison State Park Inn
Year Built: 1908Architecture Style: Colonial RevivalKey Features:Symmetrical Facade Double Level Porch with Column Supports Segmental Arched Windows(The Inn is across the street)The Fort Harrison State Park Inn was once the old post hospital, which was later converted into the headquarters building as the post expanded during World War II, with a larger and more modern hospital built on the other side of the base. You’ll see the medical sergeants and nurses’ quarters on the right. Learn more about the Inn here: https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/inns/ftharrison/
Fort Harrison State Park
At Fort Harrison, landscape and history blend together at this unique setting on the north-east side of Indianapolis. This was once the maneuvers area and firing range for the fort; now, this 1,700-acre park features walking and jogging trails, road and mountain biking trails, picnic sites, and fishing access to Fall Creek.The west road leads to one of the mountain bike trailheads and the walnut grove; the south trail leads to Camp Glenn and the riding stables which we’ll see later, and the north road takes you to the fishing pond, and further up the road the duck pond.
Officers’ Homes - 5900-5998 Wood Road
Year Built: 1929Architecture Style: Colonial RevivalKey Features:Symmetrical Facade Column Supported Pediment Entranceway Multi Paned Duble Hung WindowsWe are just off Shafter Rd (which is also E. 59th street), in front of four officer homes built in 1929 in conjunction with the regimental artillery and engineer barracks that were built across the street at the same time. These houses are now a part of the state park system and may be rented for about $240 a night and can sleep about 18 adults comfortably. Also, of note, each house is named after a former Fort Harrison commander.
Officer’s Mess and Club (The Garrison)
Year Built: Circa 1940sArchitecture Style: Colonial RevivalKey Features:Pedimented Dormers Windows with Fanlights Light Stone SidingWe’ll now continue our tour around to the “new” officers’ mess and club, built in the early 1940s, and is now The Fort Golf Course. The golf course is a public course and the best links in Indiana, and the “O” is now the Garrison Restaurant and events facility.
Regimental Artillery and Combat Engineer Barracks - 9045 East 59th Street
Year Built: 1929Architecture Style: Colonial RevivalKey Features:Elaborate Door Surround Narrow Windows ParapetsAcross the street are two barracks built in 1929, accommodating approximately 15 men in the smaller one and 350 men in the larger one, for the combat engineers and regimental artillery. The barracks on the right now serves as a recovery home for wounded combat veterans, while the building on the left is for military personnel working at DFAS and includes armed forces recruiting centers.We will turn right here, then make the first right on Wheeler Rd., passing on our left the former Army Adjutant Corps and Defense Information training building, which is now an Ivy Tech Community College site.
New Homes on Wheeler Road
To our right are new homes being built where other military barracks once stood, as well as dozens of horse and mule stables that used to be here, back when the army needed thousands of mules and horses to pull supply wagons and artillery. In 1934, more than 350 Army mules were eliminated at Fort Ben pursuant to a new Army policy that artillery and infantry units were to be motorized.Today, Triton Brewery and other local businesses now occupy some of those old stables which were so critical up to World War II for maintaining the army’s supply lines.To our left is a former 100-acre barracks area that in 1987 during the Pan Am Games hosted in Indianapolis, was used as the “Athletes Village” to securely house, feed and entertain over 6,000 game participants. This area is now occupied by the Benjamin Court Retirement Home and the Fort Ben YMCA.We’ll be turning right and shortly passing the old blacksmith shop, which is now Cafe Audrey, passing through the old Army Quartermaster section of the post – which now houses multiple businesses and restaurants.
Defense Finance and Accounting Service Building / Schoen Field- 8899 East 56th Street
Year Built: 1953Architecture Style: ContemporaryKey Features:Winged Cover over Entrance Banded Windows Flat Roof(Finance building is across the street)Today, the military maintains a strong presence at the Fort with about 10% of the base still under federal control. In addition to an Army Reserve enclave on the eastern boundary of the base, there is the large building across the street known as the Defense Finance and Accounting Service building, or DFAS. It is the second largest government building next to the Pentagon. It opened in 1953, and by 1957 it employed 5,000 Hoosiers, 77% of whom were women. Although mostly employing civilians, it remains an active duty military post to this day. In this building is the Major General Emmett Bean Center, dubbed the “Home of the Military Dollar,” which functions as the military’s financial headquarters.In 1922 this area was an Army Air Corps airfield named Schoen Field, dedicated to Indianapolis native and decorated World War I fighter ace Lieutenant Earl Schoen. In the 1930s the airfield was expanded to include 185 acres and for a brief time after World War II, the field and fort were converted to Benjamin Harrison Air Force Base in 1948 but was turned back over to the Army in 1950. The finance building and its parking lot now cover all of the former airfield and no trace is left. Read this article to learn more about the airfield and other abandoned airfields in Indianapolis: http://www.airfields-freeman.com/IN/Airfields_IN_Indy_E.htmDirectionsWe’re going to head back out and head towards 56th street. At 56th St., we will make a sharp right turn onto the sidewalk and stay on the sidewalk in front of “sergeants’ row” which most of you likely saw on your way here – these 13 duplex homes served as non-commissioned officers’ quarters and were built along 56th St. in 1931; although smaller than the officers’ homes, they are identical in style and construction. Once we get to the end of sergeants’ row, we will turn right and head back into the state park to show you Camp Glenn.
Camp Glenn
Camp Glenn was a training area for Fort Ben soldiers, and later served as a site for the post-World War I Civilian Military Training Corps (CMTC) program. This program which was instituted to train a corps of ready army officers ran each summer for three months. CMTC cadets would come each summer for four years and at the end of this period were awarded a reserve officer commission in the Army. There are 360 concrete pads here in Camp Glenn which was the platform used for the 6 to 8- man tent that the cadets lived in during this time each summer. Who has seen the movie Saving Private Ryan, with Tom Hanks playing the fictitious role of Captain Miller? In real life, officers like Captain Miller would have been graduates of the CMTC program, which had sites all over the US, and who would have been called up for active duty service for the war.During the 1920s, the Army’s 11th Infantry Regiment would annually march from Fort Ben to Fort Knox, Kentucky for maneuvers. It took seven days to get there, marching through Indiana towns and countryside with streets and roads lined with citizens to witness the mass movement of men and equipment.When World War II broke out, this area was converted to a prisoner of war camp, and by 1943 was one of several sites in Indiana receiving and housing German and Italian POWs. The POWs were put to work doing maintenance around the base.May 1944 rolled around, and 300 proud German prisoners arrived at the fort. The German prisoners who came to Fort Ben were members of Rommel’s Afrika Corps. When they arrived, most were still wearing the uniforms they were captured in The Germans were put to work doing maintenance jobs and working in the kitchen. During a task to repair the roof of the canteen, the prisoners separated two shades of shingles and organized them in the shape of a swastika on the roof. When it was discovered by the American officers, the Germans were called back for a do-over. Other than that, “records indicate the Germans were pretty well behaved.”Several Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) detachments were quartered at the Fort from 1933 to 1938. In February 1936, CCC Company 3550 arrived at Fort Ben from Fort Knox, Kentucky. It was a racially segregated all-black outfit that specialized in reforestation and soil conservation work. They spent hours in the wooded areas of the post cutting timber and converting it into lumber at the saw mill constructed for this use. One CCC worker recalled how they would “snake” lumber by Army mule out of the woods to go to the saw mill. Company 3550 also constructed an Officers’ Golf Club House that stood high on a bluff overlooking the first hole of the Fort Harrison Golf Course. The Club House resembled a log cabin. In 1960, the golf lodge was relocated to a new building also designed to look like a log cabin.Interpretive SignIn the 1990s, the Department of Defense was seeking to reduce costs and consolidate military bases across the country. This was known as the Base Re-Alignment and Closure, or BRAC, which ultimately resulted in the closure of Ft Ben in 1995. Today, the military maintains a strong presence at the Fort with about 10% of the base still under federal control. In addition to an Army Reserve enclave on the eastern boundary of the base, there is the Defense Finance and Accounting Service building that we saw earlier.Perhaps the most interesting story about Fort Harrison relates to an event that occurred in 1945. In late 1944, a Midwestern branch of the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks was established at the post in the former reception center to house hundreds of American servicemen convicted of various offenses by the military court system. This was located close to the Billings General Hospital which was on the eastern side of the fort grounds. By June 1945, about 2,700 men were incarcerated there, all performing work and receiving vocational training. On the evening of May 31, 1945, a riot started at the prison with prisoners throwing rocks at the electric lights and at prison guards. Two separate fires broke out. Prisoners rushed the barbed wire fences surrounding the compound. Prison guards fired machine gun bursts at the feet of the rioters. After four and a half hours, the prison guards regained control of the situation. Two men were found died; an Indianapolis fire fighter died of a heart attack and a prison guard was fatally wounded by ricocheting machine gun fire. Three prisoners had bullet wounds. The fire destroyed nine buildings in the prison compound with damages estimated at $100,000. The flames could be seen for ten miles. All civilian vehicles were searched for loose prisoners trying to escape. The driver of a milk truck failed to honor the roadblock and accelerated his truck past the security guards. One guard turned his Thompson submarine gun on the truck, perforating the side of the tanker and causing milk to spew out the bullet holes, emptying most of the driver’s load. The whole event became a public relations nightmare for the Army in the local Indianapolis community which had not been very happy when the disciplinary barracks first opened. To appease the local Chamber of Commerce, the Army agreed to move the part of the Disciplinary Barracks that was closest to Billings General Hospital to another area of the post. Three prisoners were ultimately found guilty of starting the riot and fires.
701 – 705 Scout Road
On our right are the camp’s showers and latrines for the cadets, now rentable space through the state park for gatherings and activities.
Trailer Court Road
In this area are the horse stables once used for cavalry training as well as mess hall facilities for soldiers and later the POWs. Now, the stables provide horseback riding for park guests.
Museum of 20th Century Warfare - 5807 Glenn Road
This is the Museum of 20th Century Warfare, operated by volunteers and open to the public and free with admission to the park. There are period themed combat displays, a warfare library, and other items related to Indiana’s involvement in our nation’s military history.
Interurban Station and Bakery
Interurban Station / La HaciendaYear Built: 1908Architecture Style: Colonial RevivalKey Features:Wide Eaves with Brackets Multi-Paned Windows Metal RoofJust in front of us, on this side of 56th street is the Mexican restaurant La Hacienda which used to be a train depot and stop on the Indianapolis interurban line, which would take troops stationed at Fort Ben back and forth between the city. When train service was replaced by bus service, the depot became the fort’s post office.BakeryYear Built: 1908Architecture Style: Colonial RevivalKey Features:Masonry Crowns over Windows and Doors Symmetrical Design Multi-Paned WindowsWe’ll pass the old bakery (635 Lawton Loop East Drive) on our right, which when built, had a capacity of 1,000 loaves of bread a day. Later, it was converted to the post library. We will pass in between the “new barracks” (8901 & 8902 Otis Avenue) which were built in 1939 to house soldiers training to be army bakers on the right, and soldiers training to serve in the army chaplain corps on the left. During World War II, these buildings also served as barracks for the Army Women’s Auxiliary Corps, or WACs.This is the last stop on our tour! If you have not already, please take the opportunity to visit Fort Harrison State Park. It is just a block north of the Inn at 6000 North Post Road. Historic Urban Neighborhoods of Indianapolis and Indiana Landmarks thanks you for joning us! Consider taking one of other fantasic tours on PocketSights!
